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Elder leadership for an age-friendly world

The Elder Leadership Academy works in partnership with Elders to challenge ageism and build respect for older Australians. We recognise that Elders have the skills and capabilities to transform their own worlds. We believe we can move beyond representation, consultation, co-design and co-production with Elders - to co-leadership of strategies to build an Age-Friendly World.

The idea for the Academy emerged when Elders approached us with issues they wanted addressed and with ideas about how change could occur. We began working in partnership and saw that Elders, who were resourced and supported, could co-lead change. The Academy offers Fellowships to Elders (people aged 65 or older) where there are shared concerns with the Celebrate Ageing Program and where resources can be identified.

The Academy was launched in July 2018 and is at the very heart of the Celebrate Ageing Program - it embodies our valuing of and respect for Elders.

If you would like to support the Elder Leadership Academy by making a donation please contact the Director, Dr Catherine Barrett on 0429 582 237 or email: director@celebrateageing.com​

Fellowships & Fellows

Six Fellowships are currently underway and will be announced at the Embolden2018 Conference in October. After this announcement, more information about their projects will be listed here. Fellows of the Academy are Elders who have co-led projects and successfully achieved the targeted outcomes. We are delighted to announce our first four Fellows of the Elder Leadership Academy below.

Margarita Solis - Margarita

Project aimThe aim of Margarita is to prevent the sexual abuse of older women at home and in care. To achieve this, the project documents and shares older women’s stories of sexual abuse. The absence of first person narratives perpetuates the myth that older women do not experience sexual abuse. Documenting first person accounts will help to build momentum for change. A pivotal aspect of the project is building safe spaces for older women to report sexual abuse and to talk about their experiences. Margarita's roleMargarita was sexually abused by the acting manager of a Seniors Rental Service when she was 94 years old. With the support of friends and family, and from the safety of a residential aged care facility, Margarita shared her story with the Australian newspaper and also on a film produced by the OPAL Institute, part of the Celebrate Ageing Program. The film will be launched in November and promoted as an educational resource.Outputs

Article in Australian Newspaper

Film (to be launched in November 2018)

Outcomes

Increased awareness amoungst community (100+ responses to article in Australian)

Distribution of film to be monitored

Resources: ​https://www.opalinstitute.org/margarita.html

Malloy - Finding strong

Project aimFinding strong is a project promoting the cultural safety of LGBTI Elders in services and community. It also aims to help LGBTIQ community members to find their strengths to help them to get through experiences of LGBTIphobia and self-doubt. PartnershipsWe are grateful to the LGBTI Health Alliance’s Silver Rainbow Project for the support for the Rainbow Makers resource and for their production of the You Are Welcome Here poster.Malloy's role​The Finding Strong project began with Malloy sharing her historical experiences of discrimination and attempted ‘conversion’ therapy for a project called Hold hands on a tram. Malloy was also interviewed by Buzz Feed News – and her key message was about finding strength. She co-authored a resource called Rainbow Makers – reflecting on her experience of discrimination by an aged care service provider and her strategies for getting through that experience. The resource was published in partnership with the LGBTI Health Alliance. Malloy has presented on her experiences of discrimination – and finding strong at the National LGBTI Health Alliance Conference in 2018, and a photograph taken of Malloy at the Conference has become the focus of a poster welcoming LGBTI Elders into aged care. Malloy presented at the National Embolden2018 Conference and at a workshop in South Australia. She will also play a role in the delivery of LGBTI sensitivity training in South Australia delivered by COTA South Australia for the National LGBTI Health Alliance.Outputs

Malloy is the first LGBTI Elder in Australia to publicly share her experience of abuse by an age care service – and to work in partnership with service providers to develop educational resources to prevent this experience happening to other LGBTI Elders

The Rainbow Makers resource has been taken up as part of the LGBTI Health Alliance’s Silver Rainbow training of aged care service providers. The resource is being used to educate service providers about cultural safety and is being rolled out across the country

Edie Mayhew - Pulse of My heart

Project aimsThe aim of Pulse of My Heart is to alter perceptions of dementia by focusing on the importance of love and connection in the lives of people living with dementia. This is achieved by producing an annual film documenting Edie's journey living with younger onset dementia - and her relationship with her married partner Anne Tudor​Edie's roleIn 2015 Edie was interviewed for a research project called Still gay ... Edie generously shared her story and photographs taken at the time were used to produce an iMovie to visually tell Edie's story. The response to the short film was so positive that a decision was made to make a film every year. Edie co-directed the first film and strongly believes that sharing her story will help to educate other people about dementia. Edie has not been able to direct subsequent films but always shares generously when the film is being produced, with support from Anne. Outputs

Anne Tudor - Bigger Hearts

Project aimTo build momentum for a more dementia friendly Ballarat and ensure its success by establishing a Ballarat Local Dementia Alliance. PartnershipsBigger Hearts was a partnership between Celebrate Ageing, Dementia Australia Vic, ​​City of Ballarat, Australian Unity, The Ballarat North Community House and Carers Respite Service at Ballarat Health Service. Anne's roleAnne Tudor is a passionate advocate for creating dementia friendly communities by increasing awareness and improving the lives of people living with dementia. Her married partner, Edie Mayhew, lives with younger onset dementia. Anne co-designed and co-lead Bigger Hearts, a project to create a more dementia friendly Ballarat. The Bigger Hearts project was inspired by Anne and Edie’s determination to embrace a positive approach to a life with dementia. Anne co-lead the Bigger Hearts project and her role involved:

engaging community leaders, small and big business representatives, and existing dementia service providers

co-delivering information sessions for people with dementia

consulting Ballarat residents about their ideas for a dementia friendly city

encouraging people living with dementia to share their stories through a 100 stories project

fostering the development of a Ballarat Local Dementia Alliance

presenting at local health and community services and National and International Conferences

supporting the production of a film encouraging local people to connect to people living with dementia.

Anne's leadership on the Bigger Hearts Project has resulted in the engagement of key stakeholders in a Ballarat Local Dementia Alliance - to ensure that the journey to dementia friendly Ballarat continues. Her achievements also include an increase in the number of Ballarat people willing to openly share their dementia diagnosis. In 2016, Anne and Edie received the Minister for Health Volunteer Award and Honorary Membership of Dementia Australia Vic. In 2017 Anne was named Ballarat Senior of the Year in 2017 in recognition of her work for Bigger Hearts. Outputs

Postcards from 300 Ballarat residents documenting their suggestions for a more dementia friendly Ballarat and a report summarising key themes

A poster and postcard series for local Dementia Hubs - or organisations and businesses who want to raise awareness about dementia

A film showing seven local people with dementia in conversation with seven local identities - to raise awareness of the importance of connecting to people living with dementia. Film viewed 848 times

Four articles in the Ballarat Courier, one in Flourish Magazine (Australian Unity), one on WIN TV news

Facilitated eight gatherings in a Ballarat Care for local residents living with dementia - attended by 60 people

Established a Ballarat Local Dementia Alliance

Supported Small Acts of Love - an international symposium on dementia and love, held in Ballarat

Outcomes

Established a Ballarat Local Dementia Alliance which meets regularly

Important anecdotal feedback from media: Ballarat now has many recognised dementia experts to respond to dementia stories in the news

Funding granted in 2018 through PITCH, Wendouree, provided by Ballarat City Council to cover costs of Dementia Friendly Training to members of the community, emergency services and customer service business employees

Bigger Hearts Dementia Alliance making measurable change in business, hospitals and the community including: Woowookarung Regional Park dementia friendly sensory trail. this 1.5km trail is partly funded through a $15,000 grant from Dementia Australia. People with dementia are integral to the project and actively involved at all stages. Wathaurung advisors provide invaluable assistance. The lead partner is Parks Victoria; others include Friends of Canadian Corridor, DHHS, U3A, Federation University, four adjoining schools, two Primary & two Secondary Colleges.